A large al-Qaida cell was busted here on Tuesday, with 41 people apprehended, including the leader of the organization in Turkey, Xinhua reported.
Police counter-terrorism and intelligence units held simultaneous operations in 50 different locations throughout the country, including Bagcilar, Esenler and Kartal districts of Istanbul.
The police were assisted by special forces teams.
Of the 41 people detained, one was the alleged leader of al- Qaida cell in Turkey, Halis Bayancuk.
Bayancuk, the son of Hezbollah leader Haci Bayuncuk serving a life sentence, was discharged in 2009 by Istanbul's 11th Criminal Court where he was being tried under arrest in a case related to al-Qaida.
Private channel NTV reports that the members were busy planning an attack when they were arrested.